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Solar Industry Pushing For More Renewables

Associated Press

The solar industry in Georgia wants to force an electric monopoly to use more renewable energy.
Southern Co. subsidiary Georgia Power is presenting its plans for meeting the state's energy needs over the next 20 years. Advocates for the solar industry say the firm is effectively ignoring solar energy.

Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning has said that renewable energy will be a niche electricity source. After finishing a new program, the utility will have agreements to buy 270 megawatts of solar energy in Georgia.

An analyst for the Georgia Solar Energy Industries Association said the utility puts too little value on renewable energy. It says the utility has put too low a cap on its renewable energy programs and not seriously considered solar when considering ways to meet energy needs.